Lifesaving and sporting float device



March 14,1944. c, s. FISCH LIFE SAVING AND SPORTING FLOAT DEVICE Filed July 11, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l v m i 0 IIIIIIIIIIIIIII/ INVENTOR. Ckazhuf-Fisc HEY March 14, 1944. c 5. FISCH 2,343,965

LIFE SAVING AND SPORTING FLOAT DEVICE Filed July 11, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Claz'rrz 6.536);

Arm/aver Patented Mar. 14, 1944 U NlTED STATES PATENT orrics Chaim S. Fisch, New York,.N-..Y. Application July 11, 1942, Serial No. 450,508

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a life saving and sporting float device.

More specifically, the invention proposes the construction of a float characterized by a central float adapted to be straddled by the legs of a rider and provided at its fore and. aft ends with floats arranged in a manner to permit the device to be used for amusement by adults and children at beaches and pools and for more important life saving purposes when disaster overtakes a ship at sea.

Another object of this invention proposes providing the float with a riders saddle to add to the comfort of the person riding. the float in a manner to prevent the tops of the riders legs from becoming chafed and irritated.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pair of stirrups suspended from the saddle to receive the riders feet and guide the movements of the riders feet in an arcuate path in a manner to propel the float across the surface of the water.

A still further object of the invention proposes providing each of the stirrups with a shoe formed with pivotally mounted fins arranged in a manner to assume an operative extended position when the leg is moved rearward to add to the propelling force of the leg movement and move the float forward at greater rates of speed.

It is another object of this invention to provide a balance bar extended across the central float and formed at its ends with floats arranged in a manner to prevent the central float from tilting sidewise.

It is also an object of this invention struct a, float which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure- Fig. 1 is a side elevational viewof a life saving and sporting float constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is anenlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3- of Fig. 1.

to con the same.

position on the float,

Fig.4 is a side elevational view similar tol, but illustrating a modification of this invention'.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a float constructed in accordance with a still further modification of this invention.

Fig. 6is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view of a portion of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged partial horizontal sectional viewtaken on the line l1 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a. vertical sectional view of the shoes per, se. f

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of'th e float shown in Fig. 5, but, withv the balance bar pivoted into an inoperative position.

Fig. 10 is a similar view to Fig. 5,v constructed in accordance with another modified form of,

the invention.

The life saving and sporting float, according. to this invention, includes a central float ID. The central float I0. is constructed of wood and is materially longer adapted to be straddled by the legs of a rider. This float I0 is constructed of separate sections H and 12. The section I2 is formed with an inwardly extended opening !3 into which one end of the section H is slidably telescopically engaged. A set screw I4. is threadedly engaged through. one wall of the section l2 and bears against the section ll'tohold the sections in var.- icus extended. positionsor completely collapsed. The construction permits the float Iii to be extended to: a length desired by the person riding Endfloats l5 are mounted fore and aft upon the central float, l0. One float l'5is mountedupon the outer end of. the sectionv H and one is mounted upontheouter end of the section l2. Each float is alike in constructionv and each comprises an inflatable member l6, preferably constructed-of rubber having a central tubular core H which engages the end of the dition of the member Hi the core-frictionally en gages the float ID to hold the float securely in floats IE todesired positions upon valve l8 of conventional construction: is mounted upon the inflatable member 48 to permit it to be inflated and deflated when desired. Surrounding eachinflatable member It there is a cover of protective nettingthe inflatable members It when inflated.

than it is wide so as to be float. In the inflated-con but when the inflatable member I6 is deflated it is possible to move the the float l0. A

la designed to retain" in their round shape The method of using the float is as follows:

The sections 1 l and I2 are extended to make the float In the desired lengthand the set screw I4 is tightened to maintain the sections as adjusted. The floats l5 are moved to desired position along the length of the float I and inflated through the medium of the valves I8 and the float I0 is then rested upon the surface of the water. A rider thenstraddles the float l0 and propels himself forward by moving his legs forwards and backwards in the water".

It is believed that it will be readily understood how hours of enjoyment may be derived from the device when used for amusement purposes by adults and children at beaches and pools. The

float when'provided in numbers aboard a ship could serve equally as well as a life saving device for the passengers in the event disaster should overtake the ship while at sea.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4'

I0" is constructed of a single is provided at its center with the central float piece of wood and a riders saddle 20 of waterproof material. The

person straddling the float l0 sits upon the saddle 20 to add to his comfortwhile, using the de-.

vice and to prevent the tops of his legs from contacting the topcorners. of the float and be cha'fed and irritated when the legs are'moved forwards and rearwards to propelthe float.

The end floats l are similar in construction to that previously described, except that the. inflatable members l6 are each provided with a downwardly extending lug 2|. A length of chain 22 has one link connected to the lug 2i and the other link connectedtoa loop23 mounted on the adjacent end of the float if. I

In other respects this form of theinventi'on is similar to that previously shown and like reference numerals are used to identify like parts in each of the several views;

' In the modification shown-in Figs. 5 to 9 the,

construction of the float is similarto that shown in Fig. 4..

shank 35 engaged with the float ID. A ball member 36 engages the socket member 34 and is attached to the center of the bar 32 by means of a bracket 31 and screws 38. (See Fig. 6.) This universal joint 33 permits the bar 32 to move into any desired position with relation to the float I0 and also permits the bar to be pivoted from an operative position extended at right angles tothe float It to an inoperative position shown in Fig. 9, extended'parallel beneath the float l0.

s The bar 32 consists of two members 32 and i 32 hinged together at 33 to permit the fold- This form of the inventionis'further provided with a pair of downwardly extending stirrups 24. Each stirrup is alike in construction and 'com prisesa length of flexible rubber material 25 formed at its top en'dwith a grommet 25. A'pin 21f is engaged through the float front of the saddle 20 and passes freely through the grommet 26 of the top end of each of the stir- V rups 24 to pivotally move in an are about the grommets.

The bottom end of'each of the lengths'of flex V ible material 25 continuesinto a shoe 28 having a stiff sole 29. .The bottom face of thesole is formed with a pair of fins- 30. 'These fins 30 are pivotally supported upon the stiif' sole 29'of the shoeby means of hinges 3l.' The hinges 3| are' so arranged that when'the" shoe is moved forwards by the forward movement of the leg upon which the shoe isengagedthe fins will pivot into the inoperative horizontalposition illustrated by the dot and dash lines when the leg is moved forward theflns will pivot downwards into the full line? vertical position shown in Fig. 8 to assist the leg motion in propelling the float in a forward position.

Theform of the invention is also formed with a balance bar 32 arranged to assume a right angular operativeposition-beneath-the saddle 20. The bar 32 is constructed of ;wood and conm" slightly in' 30 in Fig. 8. However,

nected at its .center'to the float I llby means of a g; a thr ad ding of the member 32 adjacent its com-plemene tary member 32 toward th front of the device. In Fig. 5, the dot and dash position 32' shows the two members 32 and 32 to be partially swung forward to balance the float device. Either the member 32 or 32 may be swung under the float l0, if the user of the device wants to be near another person on another similar device and the full line position of the bar. 32 shows the bar members 32 and 32 to be turned or into aligning position which is the maximum angle that may be formed between the members 32 and 32 The outer ends of the bar 32 is provided with floats 25 which are similar in, construction to form of the invenin Fig. 5 they are adaptedto be gripped bythe rider to provide a means whereby he may bal'-' ance himself upon the saddle 20.

In other respectsthis form of the inventionis similar to that previously shown and like refer-' ence numerals are used to identify like parts in each of the several views.

'In Fig. 10, the soles 29' with fins 30" are shown to be attached to a person's feet bystraps 28' without any stirrup strap, and the' saddle 20' is provided with a protecting belt 20 adapted to engage the waist-line of the person on the device, while a bracing strap 20 is provided to engage between the protecting belt 2fl 'and the float "1'." In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form and the various parts maybe recognized by similar reference numerals.

While I haveillustrated and described the pre-' ferred embodiments of my invention, it is 'to'be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. a Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A life saving and sporting float, comprising a. central. float, a riders saddle mounted on saidfloat, end floats fore and. aft of said centrab float, and means connecting said end floats-with the ends of said central float and stirrups pivotally mounted upon the sides of said float to the front of said saddle. 1 1

2. A life saving and sporting float, comprising a central float, a riders saddle mounted on said float, end floats fore and aft ofsaid central float,

and means connecting said end floats with the ends of said central float, stirrups pivotally ends of a pair The free ends the front of said saddle, and a shoe mountedon the bottom end of each of said stirrups and; each of said shoes being formed with apair i fins pivotally supported to assume an operative downwardly extended position on the backward movement of the shoe and an inoperative position horizontal to the shoe on the forward movement of the shoe. ,j,

3. A life saving and sporting float, comprising a central float, a rider's saddle mounted on said mounted upon the sides of said float to float, end floats fore and aft of said central float, and means connecting said end floats with the ends of said central float and a continuous balance bar, a universal joint connecting an intermediate portion of said balance bar to the bottom of said central float permitting said bar to assume an operative :position extended at right angles to said float and an inoperative position parallel to said central float and various angu- 10 lar position with relation thereto.

CHAIM S. FISCH. 

